Numbers 23:27–24:13
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Please come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will be 1agreeable with God that you curse them for me from there.”
28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor which overlooks the 1wasteland.
29 Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”
30 Balak did just as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
1 When Balaam saw that it 1pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to 2seek aomens but he set his face toward the bwilderness.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel 1camping tribe by tribe; and athe Spirit of God came upon him.
3 He took up his 1discourse and said,
“aThe oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;
4 The oracle of him who ahears the 1words of God,
Who sees the bvision of 2the Almighty,
Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,
5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
6 “Like 1valleys that stretch out,
Like gardens beside the river,
Like aaloes planted by the Lord,
Like bcedars beside the waters.
7 “Water will flow from his buckets,
And his seed will be by many waters,
And his king shall be higher than aAgag,
bAnd his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 “aGod brings him out of Egypt,
He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.
bHe will devour the nations who are his adversaries,
And will crush their bones in pieces,
And shatter them with his carrows.
9 “aHe 1couches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a 2lion, who 3dares rouse him?
bBlessed is everyone who blesses you,
And cursed is everyone who curses you.”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his 1hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times!
11 “Therefore, 1flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.”
12 Balaam said to Balak, “aDid I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying,
13 ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the 1command of the Lord, either good or bad, aof my own 2accord. bWhat the Lord speaks, that I will speak’?